Category Archives: Uncategorized

London; vistas and vitality

London. Maybe it’s the first time that Ruda has been back since she attended the London Boat Show in 1938.  It’s certainly the first time that she’s brought her current crew to their own capital city. [Zeige eine Slideshow] The … Continue reading

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The English Channel; tankers, The Downs, a good pint

A bit of a wait for some propitious weather while the crew stocked up on French food goodies and walked Dunkirk’s historic beaches before a painless crossing of the world’s busiest shipping lane with tankers all intent on mowing down Ruda.  None did … Continue reading

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The return journey; pesky Elbe, calm canals, a few more countries

Ruda and her crew felt more than a little sad to be leaving Prague after nearly five months.  Even though the low level of the Elbe meant that Ruda bumped along the bottom on a number of occasions the currents were not very much … Continue reading

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Prague; medieval architecture and flooding

The Navigation Department had been advised that the current decreased after the border.  No such luck for Ruda, so she pushed on at a very slow rate until the first lock.  From then on the now calmer waters of the … Continue reading

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The Elbe; fast current, spectacular walking, flooding

Ruda crossed over the Elbe on the world’s longest canal bridge before descending via an 18m high lock to the swirly, brown, turbulent waters of the Elbe itself. [Zeige eine Slideshow] The Navigation Department had heard tales of currents up … Continue reading

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Berlin; reunification, architecture, kebabs, Ostalgia and vibe

On the Polish coast Ruda donned a few more fenders, lowered her mast and headed inland towards Berlin, her 8th capital city. Her crew rather fell in love with Berlin – the raw WWII and Cold War history, the world class … Continue reading

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Poland; beaches, pirates and ice cream

To get to Poland Ruda made a night-time trip through the Russian-controlled waters off Kaliningrad. The weather was a little rougher than predicted so the crew was very happy finally to arrive safe and sound in Hel (with one “l”), twenty two hours after leaving Lithuania. Ruda had hoped … Continue reading

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Lithuania; The Curonian Lagoon, sand and amber

Ruda’s arrival in Lithuania was greeted by 72 knots of hurricane force winds which caused havoc in Lithuania’s main port, Klaipeda. Ruda emerged safe and sound, but others didn’t fare so well. Ruda hurried away and into the Curonian Lagoon, a … Continue reading

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Latvia; Art Nouveau Riga, canoeing and golden sand

Soon Ruda found herself in her 7th European capital; Riga, Latvia’s gorgeous Art Nouveau principal city. [Zeige eine Slideshow] Here she moored in a basin at the end of the old moat of the former fortifications, which now forms a canal through the heart of the city. … Continue reading

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Estonia; rocks, boulders, erratics and lighthouses

In early summer 2012 Ruda crossed the Gulf of Finland to Estonia and visited her 6th European capital, Tallinn. [Zeige eine Slideshow] In a city of perfect medieval streets and turrets Ruda enjoyed her mooring in the middle of the Old … Continue reading

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